Third night of boxing action at Fall River Golden Gloves tourney delivers

Saturday

Jan 25, 2014 at 11:33 PMJan 25, 2014 at 11:37 PM

Local boxing fans had plenty to cheer about at the Fall River P.A.L. hall on Friday night.

Marc Munroe Dion Herald News Staff Reporter

FALL RIVER — Danny Pena, Balletto's Gym, did it with one hard combo on Friday night at the Southern New England Golden Gloves Tournament. But, as is most always true, those two hard shots came only after some painstaking, classic boxing.

Fighting a Special Bout at 152 novice, Pena was calmly outboxing Justin Smith, Cyr/Farrell, when suddenly he got the opening he wanted when Smith weakened a bit. Pena came in behind the left/right and dropped Smith for the TKO at 56 seconds of the second round.

His father, former pro boxer Ray Oliveira, was in his corner, and young Ray Oliveira, On Point Boxing, gave fans what they wanted in the 178 final, open division. Fighting Julio Compusano, Cyr/Farrell. Oliveira looked like he was in some trouble. Compusano started faster and kept trapping Oliveira along the ropes. By the second round, though, a well-schooled Oliveira was getting the range. In the third, Compusano dropped his left at a poorly chosen moment. Oliveira's right hand flashed like the blade of a knife, striking Compusano on the side of the head. Compusano went down and when he got up, the ref stopped it at 38 seconds of the third. So distraught was Compusano that he stood in the ring striking himself repeatedly in the face until his corner made him stop.

Richard Jimenez, Big 6 Gym, is an economical, smart puncher but, fighting at 132 sub-novice, he got all he could handle from TNT Gym's David Greenwood. Greenwood was on the end of Jimenez's jab a lot of the first two rounds, but started boring-in late in the second, punishing Jimenez close in. Jimenez took a split decision.

Fall River P.A.L. fighter Kurt Smith, novice 165, was in it to win, forcing Big 6 fighter Christian Martinez into a war. Martinez was a little sharper, but Smith was well-trained and the two slugged merrily away throughout the second and third rounds. Just before the third-round bell, Smith staggered Martinez with a hard right but the judges gave the split decision to Martinez.

Rakeem Scott, Cyr/Farrell, had the moves at 141 novice. Boxing the final, Scott warmed up slow but smart, adding injury to injury, sticking the jab and crossing the right, piling up points against Cyr/Farrell fighter Michael Hibbert. Scott will lay back, wait for an opponent to try a punch and then counter with hard punches. Scott's gift is for making the other fellow look foolish. Scott by unanimous decision.

Keenan Moses, 152 open, Big 6 Gym, isn't used to losing, and it didn't look like was going to, either. Moses is slick and fast, and many in the crowd thought he beat Zach DeLuca, Whitman. DeLuca knew the basics well and he came in straight, punching hard to the head and body. A cooler Moses stood DeLuca off and tried to place his shots with great care. Perhaps punching a little more often might have won it for Moses, who dropped the split decision.

Fights were held at the Police Athletic League, 31 Franklin St., Fall River. The finals are next Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $25.